Wednesday, March 20, 2013
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Volume 93 - No. 12
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www.ldnews.net
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$1.34 HST inc.
BURNS LAKE
LAKES DISTRICT NEWS Tenure change hold-off
Indigenous Arts Festival...page 9
Surprise you’re married On March 18, 2013, the new provincial Family Law Act replaced the B.C. Family Relations Act of 1978.
WALTER STRONG The B.C. Liberals have deferred their proposed amendments to the B.C. Forest Act until after further public consultation this summer. The ‘enabling legislation’ was introduced on Feb. 20, 2013, as part of the province’s plan to facilitate the rebuild of the Babine Forest Products mill in Burns Lake. The legislation was lauded by the province as a step forward in B.C.’s forest policy in that it would facilitate the conversion of select volume-based forest licenses into area-based tree farm licenses, allowing for more robust forest management. Supporters of the legislation argued that its introduction was warranted by findings of the Special Committee on Mid-Term Timber Supply held over the summer of 2012. Critics of the legislation have described the amendments setting the stage for a ‘privatization’ of forest resources. Quesnel member of legislative assembly Bob Simpson led the charge against the legislation. He, and a cadre of forest policy critics, saw this move as another failing attempt by the province to manage forest policy in light of the mountain pine beetle epidemic and dwindling timber supply. Simpson supports the province’s decision to defer the amendments as the right thing to do, although he has called for a full, independent public inquiry into forest policy. Politically, Simpson says that he achieves very little in opposing the proposed legislation. “If I was just treating it as a political thing, I would have supported the rollover [of forest licenses] because I have two major companies in my own riding who would like to expand their tree farm licenses,” Simpson said. Dunkley Lumber and West Fraser Mills Ltd. both have TFLs in the Prince George forest district. Dunkley Lumber Vice President, Jason More on page 5...
Story on page 2
Live it! Love it! growing fast Three years ago Jeff Scott was enjoying a day of snowboarding at Revelstoke Mountain Resort when his ride turned a terrible corner.
Story on page 5
Special Olympic bowlers hit the lanes Twenty-two athletes from Houston, Burns Lake and Smithers meet every week in Houston for Special Olympic Bowling.
Story on page 10
You’ll Dig These Courses!
Heavy Equipment Operator .......March 25 - May 31 Surface Diamond Driller’s Helper .......... April 8 - 19 Office Essential Skills ................... April 22 - June 28 Occupational First Aid Level 3 ................May 6 - 22
CNC Office closed March 25 to April 2
Phone: 250.692.1700 • Fax: 250.692.1750 • Toll Free: 1.866.692.1943 545 Highway 16 West • PO Box 5000, Burns Lake, BC • V0J 1E0 Email: lksdist@cnc.bc.ca • Website: www.cnc.bc.ca/lakesdistrict